Severing attachment for typewriting machines



April 2 1946. 1.. c. ANTRlM ET AL 2,399,154

SEVERING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed Sept. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l l :3 la s;

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E Q I F) All & INV ENTORS N Zom's 6,5422 mm yfiowlrdcbulfz ATTORNEYS April 23, 1946. c ANTRjM ET AL 2,399,154

SEVERING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES I Filed Sept. 19, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 48 BY I ATTORNEYS 1 A ril 23, 1946. c. ANTRIM ET AL 2,399,154

SEVERI NG ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed Sept. "19, 1942 a Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS z'mw flank 45 071! 12;

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 23, 1946 V 2.39am ICE 'SEVE'RENG ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRIT- ING MACHINES Louis C. Antrim, New York, N. Y., and Frank Schultz, Cliffside Park, N. 3., assignors to Autographic RegisterCompany, Hoboken, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 19, 1942, Serial No. 458,986 17 Claims. (01. 1e4 c1) This invention relates to pinwh'eel feeding means for typewriting or the like machines and particularly to a pinwh'eel unit having means for slitting the strip as the same leaves the feeding mechanism.

The improved feeding. means is herein illustrated as applied to an attachment, disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 390,024, for transforming a machine having a friction feed for the paper into one having a positive pinwheel ,fefid Without mechanically reconstructing or altering the friction feed means.

When the paper is to be fed positively, to maintain close registration and alignment the paper strips have rows of apertures along one or both margins and these are engaged by the feeding pins. These positively fed strips are sometimes secured together along one or both of the margins to travel as one to and through the machine.

These rows of feed holes are seldom made use of afterthe strips are removed from the machine and merely. give the sheets amutilated appearthe fibers of the paper to sever the apertured feed- I ing bands. part of the pinwheel feeding unit and is simultaneously adjustable therewith to various positions to which the pinwheel may be moved and always remains in predetermined operative relation with respect to the pins. v

A feature of the invention resides in the coaction of the slitting roller with the pinwheelfeed wherein the roller is rotated thereby and holds the stationery taut over a reduced portion, in the form of a recess or groove, in an extension of the pinwheel and a cutter or breaker on the roller is disposed over the recess or groove and cooperates therewith to perform the severing operation.

The slitting roller may be positioned with the slitting knife either inwardly from the margin with respect to the apertures, or, if the strips are secured together along their edges, th'e slitting means can be disposed between the securing means and the apertures to remove the securing means to separate the strips while at the same time retaining the apertures therein from fur.- ther se.

' The pinwheel feeding unit of the present invention may be used in multiple or a single unit may be used in conjunction with a plain pinwheel This-slitting means preferably is a when it is desired to separate only one margin from the strips.

I'he knife on the slitting means may be sufiiciently sharp to penetrate all of the strips in the pile during the severing operation, however, it is preferred that the strips be weakened and the knife act to break through the lines of weakness to separate the margin from the pile. The slitting roller, in holding the strips taut over the recess or groove, permits the knife to more readily break through the weakened portion.

In the broader aspects, however, the roller need only hold the strip on the side of the recess away from the pins, as the pins coacti'ng with the apertures will hold th'e'other side in position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification When considered in connection with the drawings, in

which Figure 1 shows a top plan view of the machine with the attachment in place and having a pair of units thereon.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine.

Fig; 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the slitting means in raised position as the stationery is being threaded into the machine and over the platen,

Fig. 4 is a front view of the unit with the guard and guide partly broken away.

Fig. 5 shows a side View of the unit.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the unit with the guard removed.

' Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the unit.

Fig.8 shows a fragmentary plan view of the machine showing a unit arranged to remove the secured-together edge of a strip without removing the pinwheel feed apertures.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the pinwheel unit arranged to remove one of the apertured margins with the securing means therein. a v

The pinwheel unit of the present-invention is illustrated as applied to the attachment shown and claimed in our copending application which isintended for installation on a standard tabulating machine 25 without disturbing or removing the mechanical or electrical parts of the machine. Th machine has a rotating platen 2!. A single strip or a plurality of superposed strips '22 may be employed as required. .The strips are advanced over the platen and through the machine by the operation of pressure roller 23 cooperating with the rotating platen to frictionally feed the strip. The printing mechanism of the machine, indicated by a type bar 24, is automatically controlled by mechanism not shown to make impressions on the continuous strips overlying the platen. During the writing operation, the platen is advanced line by line and the strip fed thereby until the required data is inserted on the form thereon. The machineis provided with means generally indicated at 25 for ejecting the form after completion. of the writing operation.

The attachment which is adapted to be mount ed to the top of the carriage comprises a pair of plates 26 connected together by a plurality of rods 21, 28, 29 and shaft 30. As shown in Fig. 1, the attachment is provided with a pair of pinwheel units 3! of the present invention. These are mounted on the shaft 30, which, as shown in Fig. 2, is gearedby gearing 32 to the friction roller so as to be driven thereby during operation of the machine. The strips which are provided with rows of apertures 220. are led from the supply (not shown) under the pinwheels to be engaged thereby and advanced to the platen. They extend over the platen, the pressure roller being released, as shown in Fig. 3, from the platen so that the platen does not frictionally feed the strips. They are then guided from the platen over the pinwheel and out of the machine. A bail 33 engages the strips and maintains the proper tension thereon as the strips are fed through the machine so that the paper will be held on the platen under sufiicient tension to enable acceptable impressions to be made thereon but with insufiicient tension to be fed thereby.

The units of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 4 through 7, have a pinwheel 34 provided with the usual circumferential row of pins '35 to engage the apertures in the stationery and positively advance the same. The pinwheels are Widened to provide extensions 36, 31 at each side thereof. The extensions have a series of grooves or recesses 38, 39, 40 formed in their outer surface as shown in Fig. 4. The pinwheels of the units are mounted on the shaft 30 for rotation therewith by key and slot connections 4|, 42 and may be adjusted along the shaft to vary the spacing between them to accommodate stationery of various widths.

The pinwheels are held in adjusted position by means of plates 43, 44 having the ends 43a, 44a thereof disposed in grooves 38, 3B. The plates with a spacer 45 therebetween are secured to a bracket 46 having a hub 46a mounted on the rod 21 adjacent the shaft and locked in position thereon by a screw 41 threaded in the hub and bearing against the rod. The screw has an enlarged head 41a with a knurled edge 41b by which it can be easily adjusted and is held against accidental rotation by a spring 48 disposed between the enlarged head and the hub. The bracket and plates carried thereby are held in predetermined position with respect to the rod and pinwheel by a V notch 49 out along one side of the rod to receive the end 410 of the screw which has a shape corresponding to the notch.

' Since the bracket is thus coupled to the pinwheel and always maintained. in predetermined relation therewith, the slitting mechanism of the present invention may be mounted thereon so as to cooperate with the pinwheel to sever the strips as required as the strips leave the feeding means.

The slitting means comprises an arm 50 pivotally mounted at one end tojthe bracket 46 by a bolt 51 or other suitable means. The outer endrof the arm is cut away at 52 and has a slitting roller 53 journaled' thereon by means of a bolt 54 extending therethrough or any other suitable shaft. As shown in Fig. 4, the slitting roller has 'a broad surface 53a which overlies the extended surfaces of the pinwheel and is provided with a groove 53b whereby the pins 35 on the pinwheel may pass without interruption.

The surface 53a of the roller engages the surface of the strips disposed over the pinwheel with sufficient pressure to be frictionally rotated thereby, the weight of the roller being supplemented by a spring 54 having one end mounted on a post 55 carried by the arm and the other end secured to a post 56 on bracket 46.

The strip on each side of the groove in the pinwheel is engaged by the surface of the slitting roller and is held against the pinwheel so that the portion over the groove is held taut thereby and is engaged by an annular knife edge 58 on the slitting roller which slits the apertured edges ed the strips fed by the pinwheels, thereby leaving the remaining strips which are unmutilated from margin to margin.

While it is shown herein that the slitting wheel engages the strips on both sides of the groove, in the broader aspects of the invention it is only necessary to grip the strips at the side of the groove away from the pins since the pins will hold the strip against lateral movement and in a taut condition over the recess or groove.

The slitting knife may be sharp enough to cut through the strips, but preferably the strips may be provided with a weakened line 59 and the knife be sufficiently sharp to break through the weakened portion under the urge of spring 54.

To prevent accidental engagement with the slitting knife, a guard 60, shown in Fig. '7, is secured by screws 6! to arm 50 and extends over the slitting wheel. The guard is provided with a part 69a projecting downwardly and forwardly to form a guide means for the stationery leaving the platen to lead it toward the pinwheel. The combined guard and guide is slotted at 62 to permit free passage therethrough of the pins on the pinwheels.

As shown in Fig. 3, the slitting device can be thrown into an upper position during the threading-in operation so that access to the pinwheel may be readily had.

In some instances, the strips in the pile being fed are secured together by adhesive, staples or other suitable fastening means indicated at 53. In Fig. 8, the adhesive is shown as being applied in spots between the strips along one edge thereof.

In Figure 1, the fastening means is shown applied to both of the margins having the pinwheel apertures. When this is the case, the removal of the margins having the pinwheel engaging apertures not only removes the mutilated por-' tions of the strip but also frees the strips from said holding means whereby they may be readily separated.

As shown in Fig. 9, if it is desired to remove only one apertured margin, which may or may not be secured together, a pinwheel unit 3| and a conventional pinwheel 64 may be used, the unit 3| severing the margin along the weakening line 59.

If the strips in the pile are secured together along an edge thereof and it is desired to remove the securing means without the apertured portion so that the strips can be again fed through; a pinwheel feed mechanism, an arrangement as shown in Fig. 8 can be employed wherein a pinwheel unit 3! of the present invention is mounted on the shaft with the pinwheel and slittingroller arranged so that the slitting knife lies between the pinwheel apertures and the secured-together edges of the pile to overlie the weakened severing line-65, and a conventional pinwheel '64 is mounted to feed the unsecured edge. As the strips are fed through the machine, the secured edge will be severed therefrom, but the pin-engaging apertures will be retained so that the stationery may be againused in a pinwheel feed machine. This stationery may or may not have weakenedlines 59, as required, for subsequent removal of the apertured edges. If the edgesecuring means is applied to both edges of the pile, the conventional pinwheel 64 is removed and replaced with a duplicate pinwheel unit 3| of the .present invention.

fWhen removing the secured-together edges of the pile, the gripping of the strip on both sides of the'gro'oveby the slitting roller will be especially advantageous.

1. A pinwheel feeding unit for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures therein comprising a pinwheel having a circumferential row of pins to engage .the apertures in the strip and an extension at one side thereof provided with an annular recess therearound; and means including a slitting member mechanically cou pled to the pinwheel in predetermined relation and having a knife cooperating with the recess to slit the strip advanced by the pinwheel..

2.-.A pinwheel feeding unit for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures therein comprising a pinwheel having a circumferential row of pins to engage the apertures in the strip and extensions at each side thereof, the surface of one of the extensions having an annular groove therein; and means including a slitting roller coupled to the pinwheel in predetermined relation and having a surface overlying and engaging the extensions and a knife projecting therefrom cooperating with the groove to slit the strip advanced by the pinwheel.

w 3. A pinwheel feeding unit for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures therein comprising a pinwheel having a circumferential row of pins to engage the apertures in the strip and I strip-supporting extensions at each side thereof, one of the extensions having an annular groove therearound; a bracket coupled to the pinwheel in predetermined relation thereto; and

a slitting roller pivotally mounted on the bracket and normally urged into frictional engagement row of pinsto-engage the apertures in the strip and strip-supporting extensions at each side thereof, one of the extensions having an annular groove therearound; a bracket coupled to the pinwheel in predetermined relation thereto; an

1 arm pivotally mounted on the bracket and having a slitting roller rotatably mounted thereon; and means normally urging the arm to move the roller into frictional engagement with the pinwheel and strip extending thereover. to be rotated thereby,

said roller having a knife cooperating with the groove to slit the strip advanced by the pinwheel. 5. A pinwheel feeding unit for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures thereini comprising a pinwheel having a circumferential row of pins to engage the apertures in the strip and an extension at one side thereof provided with an annular recess therearound; and means including a slitting roller coupled to the pinwheel in predetermined relation and urged into engagement with the extension and strip thereon to hold the strip extending over the recess taut and having slitting means thereon for engaging the strip over the recess to sever the same.

6. A pinwheel feeding unit for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures therein comprising a pinwheel having a circumferential row of pins to engage the apertures in the strip and extensions at both sides thereof provided with annular grooves therearound; a bracket having plates disposed in grooves in the pinwheel to couple the same thereto in predetermined relation therewith; and a slitting roller mounted on the bracket and urged into engagement with the extension to hold the strip extending over another groove in saidextension taut and having slitting means thereon for engaging the taut strip over the last-named groove to sever the same. i

'7; A pinwheel feeding unit for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures therein comprising a pinwheel having a circumferential row of pins to engage the apertures in the strip and strip-supporting extensions at each side thereof, one of the extensions having an annular groove therearound; a bracket mechanically coupled to the pinwheel in predetermined relationthereto; an arm pivotally mounted on the bracket; a slitting roller rotatably mounted on the arm; means yieldably urging the arm to move the roller into frictional engagement with the. pinwheel and strip extending thereover to be driven thereby, said roller having an annular knife cooperating with the groove to slit the strip advanced by the pinwheel; and a guard secured to the arm and overlying the knife, said guard also guiding the strip material to the pinwheel and having an aperture therein to permit passage of the pins on the pinwheel.

8.7 A pinwheel feeding unit adapted to be adjustably mounted on a feed shaft for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures therein comprising a pinwheel having a circum-- ferential row of pins to engage the apertures in the strip and an extension at one side thereof provided with an annular groove therearound; and a slitting roller coupled thereto for simultaneous adjustment therewith and urged into engagement with the extension on both sides of said groove to hold the strip extending over the groove taut and having slitting means thereon for engaging the strip over the groove to sever the same. a a

' 9. A pinwheel feeding unit for advancing strip material having pin-engaging apertures therein comprising a pinwheel having a circumferential row of pins to engage the apertures in the strip and extensions at each side thereof, one of the extensions having an annular groove therearound; and a slitting roller coupled in predetermined relation thereto and overlying the pins, the roller having a groove therearound to receive the pins and an annular knife cooperating with the groove in the extension to slit the strip advanced by the pinwheel, the slitting roller being urged into engagement with the pinwheel and strip extending thereover to be frictionally driven thereby.

10. In a machine for positively feeding a plurality of superposed strips having marginal feeding apertures therein, a shaft, a pair of pinwheel feeding units on said shaft; each unit having a pinwheel provided with pins to engage the apertures and advance the strips, and a slitting roller mechanically coupled to a pinwheel'in predetermined relation thereto and urged into' engagement with the strips and having a slitting means disposed between the pins of the pinwheels to sever the margins from the strips, the pins holding the strips against inward movement by the severing means during the severing operation.

11. In a machine'for positively feedinga plurality of superposed stripshaving feeding apertures therein, a shaft, a pair of pinwheel feeding units mounted on said shaft, each unit'having a pinwheel provided with pins to'engage the apertures and advance the strips and having a portion of reduced diameter therearound, and a slitting roller coupled to each pinwheel in predetermined relation and urged into engagement with the strips disposed over the pinwheel to be driven thereby and having a slitting knife disposed inwardly of the pins and cooperating with the reduced portion to sever the margins from the strips while the strips are held by the pins against inward movement due to the pressure of the slitting knife on the strips extending over the reduced portion.

12. In. a machine for positively feeding strip material having feeding apertures along each margin thereof, a pair of pinwheel feeding units having pinwheels provided with pins to engage the apertures and advance the strip, said'pinwheels each having extensions under the strip inwardly of the apertures, said extensions being provided with an annular roove; and a slitting roller mechanically coupled to each pinwheel in predetermined relation and having a slitting knife cooperating with the groove to sever the apertured margins from the strip, the pins holding the strip against inward movement due to the pressure of the knife on the strips over the groove during the severing operation.

13. In a machine for positively feeding strip material having feeding apertures along each margin thereof, a pair of pinwheel feeding units having pinwheels provided with pins to engage the apertures and advance the strip, said pinwheels each having extensions under the strip-inwardly of the apertures, said extensions being provided with an annular groove; and a slitting roller pivotally mounted on each unit in predetermined relation to the pinwheel and normally urged into engagement with the strip over the extension to be driven thereby and having an annular knife cooperating with the groove to sever the apertured margins therefrom while the strips are held by the pins against inward movement due to the pressure of the knife on the strips extending over the groove, said slitting roller being v adapted to be swung to inoperative position during the threading in of the strip.

14. In a machine for positively feedinga plurality of superposed strips having feeding apertures in the margins thereof and lines of weakness parallel to the edge and located inwardly of the margins, a pair of pinwheel feeding units havingesse; i5 1 pinwheels provided with pins to engage the apertures and advance the strips, said pinwheels having extensions under the pile of strips inwardly of the margins, the extensions being providedwith an annular recess disposed under the lines of weakness, and a slitting roller coupled to each pinwheel in predetermined relation thereto and urged into engagement with the strips over the extensions to hold the strips taut oversaid recess and having a slitting knife engaging the strips at the line'cf weakness to break through said portion of thestrips and sever the margins therefrom as the strips are advancedthe pins holding the strip against inward movement due to the pressure of the knife on the strips over the'recess during the breaking through of the line of weakness.

15, In a machine for positively feeding a plurality of superposed strips having marginal feeding apertures therein and securing means in at least one margin thereof, a pair of pinwheels provided with pins to engage the apertures and advance the strips, one of said pinwheels having an extension under the pile of strips inwardly of the margin having the securing means, the extension being provided with an annular groove, anda slitting roller coupled to the pinwheel in predetermined relation thereto and urged into engagement with the strips over the extension to be driven thereby and'having a slitting knife disposed laterally of the pins and cooperating with the groove to sever the margin from the strips to remove the securing means while the adjacent pins engage and hold the strips against lateral movement due to the pressure of the knife on the strips over the groove during the severing operation;

16. In a machine for positively feeding strip material having feeding apertures along each margin thereof, a pair of pinwheel feeding units adjustably mounted therein to vary the spacing thereof to engage the apertures in the strip, the units having pinwheels provided with circumferential pins to. engage the apertures and advance the strip, said pinwheels having extensions under the stri inwardly of the apertures, the extensions being provided with an annular groove; and a slitting roller for each unit mechanically coupled to the pinwheel for simultaneous adjustment therewith and having a slitting knife in fixed relation to and cooperating with the groove to sever the apertured margins from the strip.

17. An attachment for use with a writing machine for feeding strip material having feeding apertures therein comprising side plates and a plurality of rods connectingsaid plates, a shaft extending between said plates adjacent one of the rods and adapted to be driven from the machine, a pair of pinwheel units including pinwheels having aperture-engaging pins and a recess therearound mounted on the shaft for rotation there-' with and adjustment therealong to vary the spacing therebetween, brackets mounted on one of the rods and coupled to each pinwheel in predetermined relation thereto and adjustment therewith,

means for locking the bracketto the rod to holdfrom the remainder 

